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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 87 items on the regular agenda, though more may be
added on the supplemental agenda. The
Council meeting will begin at 8 P.M. and will be televised on Hartford Public
Access, Channel 21.
Hartford Grand List
– The Council will vote on Council member O’Connell’s recommendation that the
new Grand List be made available for release on October 1. The Grand List, a list of all of the city’s
taxable property, is normally published in late November. Under O’Connell’s
resolution the list would be made public before the November election so that
voters can “be better informed of their possible future taxes.” (Item #33)
Hartford Schools
State Board of Trustees -- On the Recommendation of the Mayor and Council
members Stewart, O’Connell, McGarry, Airey-Wilson, and Watkins, the Council
will vote on a resolution which would extend the tenure of the State Board of
Trustees of the Hartford Public Schools. In 1997 the state dissolved the elected Hartford Board of Education and
replaced it with the State Board of Trustees. According to the resolution, the State Board has improved the school
systems operating systems and implemented school “policies intended to increase
student achievement.” The resolution
recommends that the tenure of the State Board be extended to June 30,
2002. (Item #36)
Financial Disclosure
– On the recommendation of the Mayor, the Council will vote on an ordinance
amending the disclosure requirements for Hartford officials. The proposed
ordinance would extend the requirement to file a statement of financial
interest to several department deputies and assistants, to members of the Hartford
Parking Authority and to Commissioners of the Hartford Economic Development
Commission. The proposed ordinance
would also require appointees to a position requiring a statement of financial
interest to file a statement for the calendar year preceding their
appointment. This item has been to
Public Hearing and is on the Action Calendar. (Item #27)
Al Fresco Ordinance -- The Council will vote on an ordinance
which would allow neighborhood businesses to create temporary outdoor
structures in order to create open air or al
fresco venues for dining and sales. Under the ordinance, businesses could erect these temporary outdoor
extensions up to their property line between May 1 and October 31 each
year. At a Public Hearing prior to the
last Council meeting a representative of the Farmington Avenue Merchants
Association (FAMA) spoke in favor of the ordinance; three residents spoke
against it. The FAMA member said the
business community was wholeheartedly in favor of the ordinance. Those who opposed it argued that the
ordinance was poorly written and would allow inappropriate structures. (Item #25)
Park River Tours
– The Council will be receiving a favorable report from the Parks and
Recreation Committee on Council members McGarry’s resolution requesting that
City Manager Kee Borges determine the feasibility of contracting with Huck
River Adventures to operate The Lost Park River Tour. Park River flows under Bushnell Park. (Item #16)
Bushnell Park Pond
– The Council will vote on an ordinance appropriating an additional $224,700
for the repair of the Bushnell Park Pond. Funds appropriated for the repair of the pond by the Council in May of
1998 were insufficient to pay of the work. Both the original $250,000 and this appropriation of $224,000 will come
from the Hartford Parks Trust Fund. This item has been to Public Hearing and is on the Action Calendar. (Item #29)
People of Color --
The Council will receive an unfavorable report from the Health and Human
Services Committee on a resolution which would change the language of city
documents. The resolution would remove
the term "minority" from city documents and replace it with
"People of Color." According
to the resolution, "minority" implies inferiority and majority
implies superiority. The communication
from the health and Human Services Committee argues that the term “minority” is
required in certain documents required by the federal government. (Item #13)
Burnt Hill – The
Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an
agreement settling a lawsuit filed in regard to a deed restriction on a parcel
of property attached to property the city owns in Farmington. The lot adjoining the city’s property, known
as Burnt Hill, has deed restrictions which prohibit development of the
lot. In the proposed settlement the
city would receive $1,000 and a 26’ easement and in return the adjoining parcel
would be granted a release of the restriction to build. (Item #8)
If you have any questions about the agenda, call the Council at 522‑4888 or Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit information center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |
